A man bought a Donkey at the market one day and took him home on approval.

 

Now the man owned several Donkeys already and he knew each one's character very well.

 

One of the Donkey was very strong and brave. Another was eager to please but quickly exhausted¹.

 

One Donkey was very lazy. He hated going to work in the morning and he did as little as he possibly could all day long. When the other animals were being loaded up he always tried to be the last so that he would get the lightest load.

 

The man led the new Donkey into the stable yard. For a moment he stood sniffing² at his new companions. Then, without hesitation³, he trotted⁴ up to the lazy Donkey and began feeding comfortably at his side.

 

Though it was late in the day, the man immediately led the new Donkey out of the yard, straight back to the market.

 

"You cannot have given him a fair trial yet," said the merchant. "It is only ten minutes since you bought him."

 

"I don't need to try him any more," replied the man. "I know just what he is like from the friend he chose for himself.

 

Take him away and give me my money back. I can do without Donkeys like him."

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